General provisions

The course is a freestanding course.

Entry requirements

A Master's degree (60 credits) with Semitic Languages as the main field of study

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should have achieved considerable familiarity with a thematic or linguistic field, and:

* be able independently to carry out a study in Semitic languages or literature;

* be able independently to formulate relevant research questions and problems and demonstrate ability in theoretical and methodological reflection;

* be able to collect, arrange and analyse relevant material;

* be able to search and critically assess, bibliographically compile and correctly refer to primary and secondary literature;

* be able to relate to criticism and comments in such a way that the quality of the degree project is improved;

* be able to present the completed study in writing in a stylistically adequate way;

* be able to defend their own work and publicly discuss the work of others constructively.

Content

An independent project on a topic in linguistics or literature. Cultural-historical topics may also be allowed if the work is directly connected with texts in the main language. The independent project should relate to the knowledge and skills that have otherwise been acquired during the Master's programme. It should give the student a good knowledge of how to seek scientific facts, how to test scientific hypotheses and how to plan, carry out and present a research project, and lead to both theoretical and philological specialisation in at least one Semitic language.

The completed degree project should be presented in the form of an essay of about 30-50 pages, preferably in English. Both from the point of view of content and formal aspects, the work should display a significant degree of independence and an assured application of scientific methodology. The following are carried out in close connection with ongoing research in Semitic languages: searching, studying and summarising of scientific literature, practical/philological work with texts, and compilation and critical analysis of results, as well as oral and written presentation. The student has a specially appointed supervisor. The student chooses the research topic in consultation with the supervisor.

Instruction

Teaching is given in the form of compulsory seminars and individual supervision. To complete the course, the student must defend their degree project at a seminar. As part of the course, the student also has to publicly review and discuss a degree project submitted by another student.

Assessment

The work in full is examined in a seminar in discussion with a fellow student as reviewer and in the presence of subject experts. The grade is based on both the quality of the degree project and on the level of independence during the work. The public discussion and defence are also taken into account. In grading the thesis, special consideration is given to precision, logical presentation, the selection and relevance of the primary material, linguistic/philological skills, use of scientific method, referring and reviewing skills, and creativity.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may decide to make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. Special circumstances can include notification of special educational support from the University's disability coordinator.